Comments on: Who Did Jesus Die For?

By: Jon

Jon — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 12:43:09 +0000

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
II Corinthians 5:7 NKJV

However, the Bible also tells me that faith is nothing without these three:

1 Resurrection
2 Love
3 Works

“And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!”
I Corinthians 15:17 NKJV

“And… though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”
I Corinthians 13:2 NKJV

“For as the body without the spirit is dead,
so faith without works is dead also.”
James 2:26 NKJV

By: Kat

Kat — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 21:05:46 +0000

In reply to Rachel Melhop.

Dear Rachel

Thank you so much for your reply. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you!

Firstly, we believe that Jesus is the Son of God, they are separate entities. Gods view of time is vastly different from ours. I don’t believe God sees time in the linear way we mere mortals understand it. For God, it must have saddened him to see that self destructive path humans would go on, but he always knew that Jesus would save us. The idea, need for and obedience of Christ was known to God from the beginning of time.

Thank you for bringing up repentance. Without repentance then baptism means nothing. We have to first acknowledge our sin and our need for Christ before baptism can have any impact on us. Repentance is an ongoing thing. Sadly, as humans we slip up all the time. Baptism does not make us immune to our human nature, and so repentance is also essential for salvation.

You talk about works as if they are separate from repentance and public confession. But here’s the thing, choosing to follow Christ has to have an impact on our heart. If we think that baptism is the end and is all that’s needed for salvation then we have things wrong. If a repentance and baptism is wholehearted, then works follow on from that. The love of God and the sacrifice of Christ should move us so deeply as to impact on every aspect of our lives. We can never ever repay that debt, but our understanding of it should ensure that every decisions we make are made in light of what was done for us. ‘We loved because he first loved us’ We wouldn’t know love if it weren’t for the love of God. Repentance from sin and a public confession of our choice to follow Christ should change us. Thus, works follow from faith. To me, it is impossible to have a true faith if it doesn’t impact my works.

The reason Jesus sacrifice, though ‘just’ a man, saved us, is because he denied his whole self. He lived a life that was perfect. He didn’t stray once from the path laid out for him. In the garden of gethsemane we see him wrestling with his human nature. It is clear that his own will was NOT to die on the cross. ‘Not my will but thine be done’ Jesus had human nature and so it was possible for him to sin. He lived an entire life WITHOUT sin. I’m not sure I ever go one day without sinning, I’m my heart or mind or actions. Christ’s sacrifice saves us because he is the only one to have ever lived the life God wants for us. It was God who accepted Christ’s sacrifice to forgive our sins. Jesus forgave us as only humans can, but God accepted his life as atonement for the sins of the world. Jesus was able to heal and say God had forgiven sins because he had the ability to see a persons heart.

I hope I have gone some way to answering your questions, or helping you see where I am coming from. Im happy to keep chatting.
God bless

By: Rachel Melhop

Rachel Melhop — Sun, 24 Feb 2019 00:06:47 +0000

Dear Kat,
Well done, faith in action.
Just a couple of questions for your thoughts.Since the fall when Gods relationship with man was broken, our Creator God planned an incredible path back into relationship with him. We see that plan being worked out throughout the entire scriptures, a golden thread as it were ,pointing to redemption through Christ. We see the pictures in the Old Testament. The Israelites being rescued from evil (Egypt) and the journey, picturing our walk from sin, sea division (type of baptism) wilderness suffering, battles with the enemy and deportation to Babylon. Sin, had victory so many times, but God always provided a way out.
In Col 1v15 Jesus is described as the image of the invisible God, the firstborn(prototokos) over all Creation. Prototokos meaning first begotten, first in time, then goes on to say……. for by HIM all things were created etc. Jesus was before Creation. He was with the Father at Creation, Jesus and the Father are one.
You mention baptism as being essential for salvation. Where do you place repentance? Do you think a public confession is needed before baptism. What saves? Baptism? And even after that do you have assurance of your Salvation? If we need works added on the it’s like saying Jesus, you didn’t do enough by giving your life for me. Although works become second nature when we are born again they are not what saves.
I have so much more, since coming into a personal relationship with Jesus my life has been totally transformed by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
If Jesus was just a human being how did the sacrifice of “a man “pay for the sins of the whole world? Only God can forgive sin and we know that Jesus healed and forgave sins before his crucifixion…… this was the problem the Jews had , Jesus saying “if you have seen me you have seen the Father etc etc” John 10. I could go on Kat, and , if you are open to discussion I would like that. Love and blessings x